PM2.5 stands for particulate matter 2.5 microns or smaller. These particles are 30 times thinner than a human hair and come from car exhaust, power plants, wildfires, and burning fuel. They are small enough to bypass your body's natural defenses and enter your bloodstream.

How does air pollution affect the body?

Air pollution affects virtually every organ in the body. PM2.5 particles enter your lungs, pass into your bloodstream, and travel to your heart, brain, kidneys, liver, and other organs. This causes chronic inflammation, increasing risks of heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, dementia, and many other conditions.

How many people are affected by air pollution?

99% of the global population breathes air that exceeds WHO safety guidelines. Air pollution kills approximately 8 million people every year—more than AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis combined.

Indonesia's Sumatera Selatan Air Pollution Report

Overview

Air Pollution in Sumatera Selatan

Sumatera Selatan faces significant air pollution challenges. 100% of districts exceed the WHO guideline for clean air. This is putting 8.8 million across 15 districts at risk.

The average PM2.5 over 2023 was 24.6µg/m³. That's 4.9 times the WHO guideline for clean air of 5µg/m³.

This is equivalent of everybody, including children, smoking about 408 cigarettes in a year.

Trends

Air Quality Trend

Annual PM2.5 levels from 2014 to 2023. The WHO guideline for safe air is 5 µg/m³.

Health Impact

Life Expectancy Impact

If Sumatera Selatan met the WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³, the average person would live 1.92 years longer.

That's 16.8M years of life stolen from 8.8 million people. Years of watching children grow up. Years of building a career. Years of quiet mornings and celebrations.

Lives cut short. Breathing kills.

Most Polluted

Districts with Highest Pollution

The top 10 most polluted districts in Sumatera Selatan. These areas face the greatest health burden from air pollution.

1.Ogan Ilir
2.8 years lost
2.Palembang
2.7 years lost
3.Ogan Komering Ilir
2.3 years lost
4.Prabumulih
2.1 years lost
5.Banyu Asin
2 years lost
6.Ogan Komering Ulu Timur
1.8 years lost
7.Muara Enim
1.8 years lost
8.Ogan Komering Ulu
1.6 years lost
9.Musi Banyuasin
1.5 years lost
10.Lubuklinggau
1.4 years lost

Exposure

Population Exposure by Pollution Level

Distribution of population across different PM2.5 pollution levels. The WHO guideline is 5 µg/m³—only populations below this threshold are breathing safe air.

< 5 µg/m³

5-10 µg/m³

10-15 µg/m³

15-25 µg/m³

54.6%

4.8M

25-35 µg/m³

45.4%

4.0M

> 35 µg/m³

Districts

All 15 Districts in Sumatera Selatan

Complete air quality data for every district in Sumatera Selatan, sorted by population.

District	Population	PM2.5 µg/m³	Years Lost
Palembang	1.7M	32.8	2.7 years
Banyu Asin	897K	25.8	2.0 years
Muara Enim	804K	22.9	1.8 years
Ogan Komering Ulu Timur	749K	23.1	1.8 years
Ogan Komering Ilir	728K	28.4	2.3 years
Musi Banyuasin	631K	19.8	1.5 years
Musi Rawas	600K	18.7	1.3 years
Lahat	447K	18.4	1.3 years
Ogan Ilir	431K	33.3	2.8 years
Ogan Komering Ulu Selatan	426K	15.7	1.0 years
Ogan Komering Ulu	401K	21.3	1.6 years
Empat Lawang	335K	17.5	1.2 years
Lubuklinggau	242K	19.4	1.4 years
Prabumulih	200K	26.2	2.1 years
Pagar Alam	149K	16.6	1.1 years

Showing 15 districts, sorted by population (largest first). PM2.5 values are for 2023. Years lost calculated against WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.

Breathing in Sumatera Selatan is Injurious to Health.